“Stranded” The story of the birth of punk in Brisbane

Screen Queensland is delighted to announce Queensland co-producers Veronica Fury and Murray Power and WildBear Entertainment’s documentary feature, Stranded, will be airing next week on ABCTV, Tuesday 15 September at 9.30pm AEST.

Proudly supported by Screen Queensland, Stranded is an important slice of Brisbane’s pop cultural history and features interviews with Bob Geldof along with a broad array of international, national and local music identities.

Stranded traces the unlikely birth of the Australian punk music scene in Brisbane in the 1970s – the evolution, the revolution and the repercussions.

Led by singer Chris Bailey and guitarist Ed Kuepper, The Saints was a punk music band that emerged from a Brisbane garage and subsequently its underground music scene in the 1970s.

With their debut single “I’m Stranded”, The Saints rocked onto the world stage and put Brisbane on the map.

‘We recognise the importance of supporting factual features such as Stranded which captures an exciting moment in Brisbane’s pop cultural history,’ said Screen Queensland CEO Tracey Vieira.

‘It is about Queensland’s capital city, set against social and political unrest, that led a punk music movement.

‘It captures our musical heritage on film and tells a story that may not be known to younger generations about the significane of Brisbane and some young musicians who were involved in the birth of punk music.’

Sir Bob Geldof once remarked that three bands changed the face of rock music in the 1970s: the Sex Pistols, The Ramones and The Saints.

Stranded is the story of a group of four suburban boys from Brisbane who called themselves The Saints and who would unwittingly play a part in changing the world’s musical landscape forever.

Set against the backdrop of recession and conservative government and with a population that had no desire for change, Queensland was the perfect breeding ground for a musical and cultural revolution.

It was a time when almost simultaneously and independently of each other, the Ramones were thrashing away in New York, the Sex Pistols were enraging the establishment in London and in of all places, Brisbane, The Saints were rewriting the music rulebook.

This engaging, surprising and fast paced documentary features a stunning array of archival material, amazing music and interviews with international punk doyens Bob Geldof, Steve Diggle, Jello Biafra, along with a great mix of local’s who were there.